Multiple column shifting mechanism for article dispenser



June 28, 1966 o. J. SCHWERTFEGER ETAL 3,

MULTIPLE COLUMN SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE DISPENSER Filed Sept. 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO RS. OWEN J SCHWERTFEGER RA YMO/VD L. GUSTAVEL BQH/L/PA. DECZ/gW/TZ (Lax 1. 1

June 28, 1966 o. J. SCHWERTFEGER ETAL 3, 4

MULTIPLE COLUMN SHIF'IING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1964 6 7 8 5 5 5 5 5 4 9 6 32 9 7 I w w w Ch :0 wmwwfi 0% 9 w 8% f u 6 4 s M m M I a a m 8 8g 5 2 5 9 M 7% m m /99 E l V 4 P P Q 2 5\ \5 6 W 7 mm uuawwama e m M MD OWEN J. SCHWERTFEGER RAYMOND L GUSTAVEL PHIL/P A. BY QJJF June 28, 1966 o. J. SCHWERTFEGER ETAL 3,253,154

MULTIPLE COLUMN SHIFTING MECHANISM FDR ARTICLE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 2, 1964 INVENTORS. OWE/V J. SCHWERTFEGER GUSTAVEL RAYMOND L. PH/ PA. 050 ow/rz June 28, 1966 o. J. SCHWERTFEGER ETAL 3,258,154

MULTIPLE COLUMN SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE DISPENSER Filed Sept. 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet. 5

l/V VE N TORS OWE/V J. .SCHWERTFEGER RAYMOND L GU87" A VE L PH/LIP A. DECKOW/TZ f a gg H g y United States Patent 3,258,154 MULTIPLE QOLUMN SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE DISPENSER Gwen .ll. Schwertfeger, Chicago, Raymond L. Gustavel, Ktasca, and Philip A. Declkowitz, Chicago, 121., assignors to The Seehurg Corporation, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 394,022 9 Claims. (Cl. 221-11) This invention relates to devices which are adapted to store and dispense articles which are disposed in columns in a dispenser or vending device and more particularly to novel actuating mechanisms for shifting the columns of articles disposed in such devices into a common dispensing area.

It is known in the art to provide apparatus which is adapted to store and dispense stacked columns of articles disposed in a plurality of storage chambers. In order to avoid non-functioning of the apparatus by virtue of depleted inventory, it has been proposed to utilize electrical or mechanical means which, after the supply of articles in a given chamber is exhausted, actuate another chamber whereby articles are dispensed from the said other chamber. After the article supply in the second chamber is depleted, similar means actuate yet another storage chamber, and so on until all the chambers are empty.

Likewise, efforts to circumvent such depletion of inventory problems have resulted in the provision of a first storage and dispensing chamber for stacking a first column of articles in combination with a second storage chamber for stacking a second column of similar articles, the said second column being adapted to be shifted from the second to the first chamber upon depletion of the said first column from the first chamber.

The subject invention provides an improved arrangement that utilizes a column shift concept in a multiple (that is, more than two) chamber systems in a simple and inexpensive manner. This result is accomplished by the use of a common dispensing chamber cooperable with a plurality of storage chambers adapted upon signal to shift the columns stored therein in sequence into the dispensing chamber for ultimate egress from the apparatus. Moreover, the subject invention accomplishes this end by the use of a single shift actuator which is operable upon a first actuation to effect shifting of a first stored column and upon a second actuation to eifect shifting of a second stored column.

Although this multipleshift concept could be even further extended to accommodate additional columns, it has been found most practicable to utilize only three chambers, namely, a first storage and dispensing chamber and a second and a third storage chamber, each of the three chambers being adapted to receive respectively first, second, and third columns of similar articles therein. The storage and dispensing chamber is provided with a sensing means for determining the presence of articles therein; with an article-releasing means for depleting the articles one-at-a-time from the dispensing chamber; and with a shift actuator responsive to the sensing means for first shifting the second column of articles from the second storage chamber to the dispensing chamber upon depletion of the last article from the first column of "ice articles normally disposed in the dispensing chamber and for thereafter shifting the third column of articles from the third storage chamber to the dispensing chamber upon depletion of the last article from the second column of articles shiftably disposed in the dispensing chamber.

The subject invention is especially meritorious in that, in addition to utilizing the same sensing means and the same article-releasing means for all the columns of articles, a single shift actuating means is provided to suecessively shift the second and third columns of articles into the dispensing chamber. In the described embodiment, the shift actuating means comprises a slida-ble drive assembly which is adapted to be moved by the energization of a solenoid. An actuating pawl, biased by an over-center spring, is pivoted to the slidable drive assembly. Initially, the pawl is disposed in a position wherein it is engageable with column shifting components which are adapted to shift the second column of articles so that movement of the drive assembly imparts movement to the column shifting components. Thus, when the solenoid is energized, the second column of articles is shifted into the dispensing chamber. Upon de-energization of the solenoid, the drive assembly returns to its rest position, the pawl at the same time pivoting, with the aid of the over-center spring, to a position wherein it 'is engageable with additional column shifting components which are adapted to shift the third column of articles so that movement of the drive assembly imparts movement to the column shifting components for the third column. Thus, when the solenoid is re-energized, the third column of articles is shifted into the dispensing chamber.

Conventional means are provided for sensing the dispensation of the topmost article in a given column.

When dispensation of such an article is sensed, the sole-,

noid is energized, whereby the next column of stacked articles is shifted into the dispensing chamber from which Another object of the present invention is to provide.

an apparatus of the character described in which certain of the columns of articles are sequentially shiftable into a common dispensing chamber, wherein a single article-releasing means is utilized for all the columns of articles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a column shifting mechanism, adapted for use in an apparatus of the character described, wherein novel actuating means are utilized to move the shiftable columns of dispensible articles.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a column shifting mechanism of the character described wherein a single actuating means sequentially moves each of the shiftable columns of dispensible articles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a column shifting mechanism of the character described wherein a single sensing means, responsive to the article level in shiftable columns of dispensible articles, controls the operation of the single actuating means.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the subject invention will hereinafter be apparent, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an exemplary embodiment of the subject invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the subject invention;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view after actuation of a first column shifting means thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view after actuation of a second column shifting means thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary left side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE after actuation of the first column shifting means;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 after actuation of the first column shifting means;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURES 5 and 7 after actuation of the second column shifting means;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10--10 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1111 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURES 5, 7, and 9;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary left side elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG- URES 6 and 8;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 1414 in FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 15 is an exploded perspective view of the article releasing means and sensing means employed in combination with the device illustrated in FIGURES 1-14.

With reference to the drawings, FIGURES 1, 4, and 5 show an article storing and releasing mechanism M adapted to hold three stacked columns of articles, such as cups C (see FIGURE 4), in a pair of storage chambers 20, 22 and in a combination storage-dispensing chamber 21. The chambers 20, 21, 22 are defined by a pair of generally vertical wall members 23, 39. Wall member 23 is generally U-shaped in configuration and comprises a rear wall portion 24 and a pair of perpendicularly extending side wall portions 25, 26 which define chambers 21, 22 therebetween. A flange 27 is formed on the front side of side wall portion 25, and a similar flange 28 is formed on the front side of side wall portion 26. A top plate 29 and a bottom plate 30 each interconnect flanges 27, 28, and mounting brackets 31, 32 are provided on side wall portion 26 so that the article storage and releasing mechanism M can be mounted in a suitable device, such as a vending machine (not shown).

As shown in FIGURES 1-4, channel members 33, 34 are provided, one being mounted on each of the flanges 27, 28. Channel members 33, 34 are each provided with a respective offset portions 35, 36, and grooves 37, 38 (see FIGURE 4) are thus formed respectively between flange 27 and offset portion 35 and between flange 28 and offset portion 36. Grooves 37, 38 are adapted to receive the side edges of a cover plate (not shown) which is utilized to cover the generally open front side of mechanism M that lies between flanges 27, 28. As will hereinafter be explained, columns of cups C are loaded through the open top of mechanism M, and the removable cover plate facilitates such loading. For reasons of clarity, however, the cover plate is not shown in any of the drawings.

Storage chamber is generally defined by U-shaped wall member 39, which comprises a rear wall portion 40 and a pair of side wall portions 41, 42, which extend perpendicularly toward rear wall portion 24 of wall member 23. A flange 43 (see FIGURE 5) is formed along the forward edge of side wall portion 41 and is firmly fixed to rear wall portion 24 of U-shaped member 23 by conventional means (not shown). An L-shaped bracket 44 (see FIGURES 4 and 11) interconnects side wall portion 42 and rear wall portion 24 and is firmly fixed thereto by conventional means (not shown). An inclined bottom plate 45 (see FIGURE 11) is fixed to wall member 39 by means of a pair of flanges 47, 48 (see FIGURES 2-4) respectively formed along the bottom edges of side portions 41, 42, and of a flange 46 formed on plate 45 (see FIGURE 11). Plate 45 thus forms a bottom for storage chamber 20.

As best seen in FIGURE 11, rear wall portion 24 is cut away so as to form an opening between chamber 20 and chamber 21. A cover plate 51 is pivoted to side wall portion 42 by a pair of similar hinges 52. Each of the hinges 52 comprises a pair of mounting plates 54 (shown in broken lines in FIGURE 11), one plate 54 from each hinge being mounted on side wall portion 42 and the other plate 54 of each hinge 52 being mounted on cover plate 51. Two hollow collars 55 projects from each mounting plate 54, and a hinge pin 56 passes through the openings in collars 55 of each hinge 52 whereby cover plate 51 is pivotally attached to side wall portion 42. A hinge spring 57 is provided on each hinge pin 56 whereby cover plate 51 is biased toward the opened position shown in FIG- URE 11 (wherein plate 51 is flush adjacent side wall portion 26 of U-shaped wall member 23). Cover plate 51 may be pivoted so as to cover the opening in rear wall portion 24 in opposition to the bias of hinge springs 57, thereby separating chamber 20 from chamber 21. The path through which plate 51 pivots is indicated by arrow B in FIGURE 10. Means (hereinafter described) are provided to latch cover plate 51 in position so as to cover the opening in rear wall portion 24.

As best seen in FIGURES 1-4, a column shifting assembly 60 is provided. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, column shifting assembly 60 is normally disposed in chamber 22. However, assembly 60 (which is adapted to hold therein a stacked column of cups C22) is movable within the mechanism M to the position shown in FIG- URE 3, wherein assembly 60 overlaps into chamber 21. Movement of column shifting assembly 60 between its FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 3 positions will be described hereinafter in detail.

Column shifting assembly 60 comprises a pair of 0pposed side wall portions 61, 62. Perpendicularly extending flanges 63, 64 are formed on side wall portion 61, and similarly flanges 65, 66 are formed on side wall portion 62. A top plate 67 (FIGURE 4) and a wider bottom plate 68 (FIGURES 1-3) interconnect flanges 63 and 65, and a top plate 69 (FIGURE 4) and a central plate 70 (FIGURES 1-3) interconnect flanges 64, 66.

Chamber 20 includes a column moving member 71 pivotally mounted therein and adapted to laterally move a stacked column of cups C20 from chamber 20 into chamber 21 through the opening in rear wall member 24 (see FIGURE 11). Column moving member 71 is a generally flat plate with an inclined flange portion 72 extending downwardly from the lower edge thereof (see FIGURES 2, 3, and 11). Member 71 has a pair of perpendicularly extending flanges 73, 74 (see FIGURES 4 and 11) formed thereon and is pivoted between side wall portions 41, 42 by means of a pivot pin 75 which passes through flanges 73, 74. Thus, column moving member 71 is pivotable (about pivot pin 75) from a position wherein it is generally parallelly aligned with rear wall portion 40 (as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 11). Movement of column moving member 71 from its broken line to its full line position urges the column of cups C20 to move from chamber 20 into chamber 21.

The interrelation and purpose of the chambers 20-22, column shifting assembly 60, and column moving member 71 may now be explained. With the mechanism M disposed in the configuration shown in FIGURE 1 (wherein column shifting assembly 60 is disposed in chamber 22; wherein column shifting member 71 is disposed in its FIG- URE 11 broken line position; and wherein cover plate 51 is disposed so as to cover the opening in rear wall portion 24), three columns of dispensible cups C20-22 may be loaded into the mechanism M, one column in each of the respective chambers 2022.

A conventional cup-release ring 200 (see FIGURE 15) is provided adjacent the bottom of chamber 21 in order to release cups C in a one-at-a-time fashion from chamber 21. Cup-release ring 200 is mounted beneath chamber 21 by means of a mounting plate 202, having an upstanding flange 204. Flange 204 is adapted to be mounted by conventional means (not shown) along the lower edge of side wall portion 26 in order that an annular opening 206 in plate 202 is centered beneath chamber 21. Ring 200 is fixed to plate 202 by means of three mounting studs 208 which pass through and cooperate with three corresponding holes 210 in plate 202.

Cup release ring 200 comprises an annular upper housing 201 and an annular lower housing 203. A plurality of fingers 212 are pivotally mounted between housings 201, 203. Fingers 212 are pivotable between a first position wherein a column of cups C is supported, and a second position wherein all of the cups C above the bottommost cup are supported, whereby the bottommost cup C is free to fall away from the column under the influence of gravity. Each of the fingers 212 is linked to an actuating member 214 disposed between housings 201, 203. Member 214 is adapted to move reciprocally as shown by arrow A" in FIGURE 15 between a normal rest position and a dispensing position. The plurality of fingers 212 are simultaneously shifted in unison from their first positions to their second positions and thereafter back to their first positions upon movement of the actuating member 214 from its rest position to its dispensing position and back to its rest position. The described movement of the actuating member 214 from its rest to its dispensing position thus releases a cup C from the column, and return of the member 214 to its rest position thereafter restores the mechanism to its normal position, wherein the remaining column of cups C is supported by the fingers 212 which are uniformly disposed in their respective first positions. After repeated actuation of the cup-release ring, the supply of dispensible cups C in the chamber 21 will be exhausted.

Conventional sensing means, such as a feeler 216 (see FIGURE 15), is also provided adjacent the bottom of chamber 21. The feeler 216 preferably comprises the actuator of a switch 218. Switch 218 is mounted on a plate 220, and plate 220 is adapted to be aflixed to a mounting member 222. Mounting member 222, in turn, is adapted for permanent attachment to plate 202 by means of a pair of bolts or rivets (not shown) which pass through holes 224 in a bottom flange 226 of member 222 and holes 228 in plate 202.

Feeler 216 is biased to swing toward the center of opening 206, but is normally maintained away therefrom by a column of cups C which is disposed in chamber 21. However, after the supply of cups C in chamber 21 is exhausted, feeler 216 swings toward the center of opening 206, thereby sensing the release of the last cup C therefrom. Movement of feeler 216 toward the center of opening 206 is adapted to close switch 218, thereby accomplishing a switching function. The switching function performed by switch 218 is adapted to trigger means (hereinafter described in detail) which cause cover plate 51 to open in order to uncover the opening in rear wall portion 24, thereby to move column moving member 71 to its FIGURE 11 full line position, and to move the second column of cups C20 (normally disposed in chamber 20) into chamber 21. The cup-release ring 200 may then release the cups C one-at-a-time from the second column. After the last of the cups C is dispensed from the second column, the feeler 216 senses the dispensation of the last cup C and means (hereinafter described) cause column shifting assembly 60 to move from its FIGURE 1 disposition to its FIGURE 3 disposition, whereby the third column of cups C22 is moved into chamber 21. The third column of cups C22 (disposed within the column shifting assembly 60) may then be released one-at-a-time from chamber 21 by the cup-release ring 200.

After release of the last cup C from the third column, column shifting assembly 60, column moving member 71, and cover plate 51 (which is maintained flush adjacent side Wall portion 26 by hinge springs 57 during the sequential movement of columns of cups C20, C22 into dispensing chamber 21 and during the release of cups C from such columns) may be reset in their respective FIGURE 1 dispositions, and three more columns of cups C may be loaded into the mechanism M, and the cycle repeated, as required.

As best seen in FIGURES 4-9 and 12-14, a solenoid 81 is fixedly mounted on an L-shaped bracket member 82 by means of bolts 85, and L-shaped member 82 is attached to rear wall portion 24 by conventional means such as bolts 83 which pass through slots 84 in L-shaped member 82. By means of conventional circuitry means (not shown) solenoid 81 is energized whenever switch 218 closes in response to the swinging of feeler 216 toward the center of opening 206 in plate 202, that is, whenever the feeler 216 senses the absence of cups C in chamber 21. An armature 86 of solenoid 81 is adapted to be moved upwardly, by energization thereof, from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to the position shown in FIGURE 9.

A drive member 87, comprising a bottom portion 88 and a pair of generally parallelly aligned side portions 89, 90, is slidably mounted on side wall portion 41 by means of a projecting pin 91 on side wall portion 41 (which passes through a pair of similar slots 92 in side portions 89, 90, see FIGURES 12l4), a washer 93, and a retaining clip 94. Drive member 87 is linked to armature 86 by means of an L-shaped bracket 95 (FIG- URE 13) which is fixedly mounted on the side portion 20 of drive member 87. A connecting pin 96 passes through aligned openings in L-shaped bracket 95 and armature 86, thereby interconnecting bracket 95 and armature 86, whereby energization of solenoid 81 and the resultant upward movement of armature 86 move drive member 87 to its raised position. Thus, drive member 87 is vertically moved on side wall member 41 from a lowered position, as shown in FIGURES 5-8, to a raised position, as shown in FIGURE 9, drive member 87 being maintained in its raised position so long as solenoid 81 is energized. A spring 97, stretched between the bottom portion 88 of drive member 87 and a pin 98 on rear wall portion 24, urges drive member 87 toward its lowered position. Thus, upon deenergization of solenoid 81, drive member 87 is returned to its lowered position (-as shown in FIGURES 58).

A first column shifting member 101 (see FIGURES 5-9, 12, and 13) is slidably mounted on side wall portion 41 by means of a projecting post 102 which passes through a slot 104 in member 101 and of a similar post 103 which passes through a slot 105 in member 101. A washer 106 and a retaining clip 108 are provided on post 102, and a washer and retaining clip (which are not shown) are provided on post 103. Column shifting member 101 is thus slidable between a lowered position shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6 and a raised position shown in FIGURES 7-9. A spring 110 is stretched between a bracket 111 on column shifting member 101 and a tab 112 on L-shaped member 82, so as to urge column shifting member 101 toward the lowered position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

A pawl 115 is pivoted to side portion 90 of drive member 87 by means of a pivot pin 116 (see FIGURES 12- 14). An over-center spring 117 (see FIGURES 12-14) is stretched between an extending tab 118 on pawl 115 and the upper edge of side portion 89 of drive member 87. A projecting lip 119 (having an upper surface 119') is formed on the upper edge of pawl 115. Pawl 115 is pivotable about pin 116 between a first position (see FIGURE 6) and a second position (see FIGURE 8). The over-center spring 117 is adapted to urge pawl 115 at any given moment to stay in either its first or second position, depending upon the position in which it is disposed at a given moment. When pawl 115 is disposed in its first position (as shown in FIGURES 6 and 14) lip 119 is adapted to engage member 120'. Member 120 is aflixed to column shifting member 1131 and comprises horizontal projecting flanges 120 and 122' and a vertical flange 122 which extends perpendicularly from flange 122'. A projecting pin 121 (see FIGURES 12 and 14) is mounted on flange 122, and projecting pin 121 abuts against the edge of pawl 115 when pawl 115 is disposed in its first position (see FIGURE 14) whereby pawl 115 is prevented from rotating in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 14) from its first position. Thus, with pawl 115 disposed in its first position, upward movement of drive member 87 (which occurs upon energization of solenoid 81) results in column shifting member 101 being moved to its raised position (in opposition to the bias of spring 110), as surface 119' of lip 119 engages flange 120.

Movement of column shifting member 101 to its raised position causes the movement of column moving member 71 (whereby the column of cups C20 is moved from storage chamber 20 to dispensing chamber 21) in the following manner. The upper end of column shifting member 101 is formed into a cam surface 125, and side wall portion 41 and rear wall portion 40 are cut away to permit a hub 126 to be mounted on flange 73 of column moving member 71 by means of a pivot pin 127. A spring 128 is stretched between pin 127 and a pin (not shown) on wall 41, thereby urging hub 126 and column moving member 71 forward toward rear wall portion 24. Thus, column moving member 71 is biased to assume the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 11. When column shifting member 101 is disposed in its lowered position (see FIGURE 6), hub 126 is engaged by cam surface 125, and column moving member 71 is maintained in its rearward disposition (as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 11). When, however, column shifting member 101 is moved to its raised position (see FIGURE 8), cam surface 125 disengages hub 126, and spring 128 pulls column moving member 71 to its forward position. This results in the movement of the column of cups C20 from chamber 20 to chamber 21. When hub 126 is pulled to its FIGURE 8 position, it passes under cam surface 125, thereby impeding column shifting member 101 from returning to its lowered position.

In order that a column of cups be moved 'from chamber 20 to chamber 21 in the aforementioned manner, it is necessary that cover plate 51 be opened so as to uncover the opening in rear wall portion 24. The mechanism by which cover plate 51 is latched into position (in opposition to the bias of hinge springs 57) is best seen in FIGURE 10. A latch 131 is provided on cover plate 51. A projecting arm 132 has formed thereon an angularly projecting lip 133 which extends into an engages latch 131, and arm 132 is slidably mounted on rear wall portion 24 by means of a pair of projecting pins 134, 135, which pass respectively through a pair of slots 136, 137, a pair of washers 138, 139, and a pair of retaining clips 140, 141. Arm 132 is slidable on rear wall portion 24 from the position shown in FIGURES and 10, wherein lip 133 engages latch 131, thereby maintaining cover plate 51 in a position over the opening in rear wall portion 24, and a position shown in FIGURE 7 (and in broken lines in FIGURE wherein lip 133 is disengaged from latch 131, thereby permitting cover plate 51 to be opened by hinge spring 57. A spring 142 is stretched between a bracket 143 and pin 135, spring 142 serving to bias arm 8 132 toward the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 10 wherein cover plate 51 is held in its closed position.

A projecting arm 144 is fixed to column shifting member 101 so as to be vertically movable therewith between a first position (see FIGURE 6) and a second position (see FIGURE 8). A perpendicularly extending cam surface 145 is provided on projecting arm 144, cam surface 145 being adapted to engage pin 134 so that movement of column shifting member 161 from its lowered to its raised position causes cam surface 145 to act against pin 134 and to move pin 134 to its second position (as seen in FIGURE 7 and in broken lines in FIGURE 10), thereby disengaging lip 133 from latch 131 and permitting cover plate 51 to open. Projecting arm 144, cam surface 145, and pin 134 are positioned such that when column shifting member 101 is moved from its lowered to its raised position, cover plate 51 is permitted to open just prior to the disengagement of cam surface 125 and hub 126. Thus, cover plate 51 opens just prior to the actuation of column moving member 71. Thus, cover plate 51 does not impede movement of the column of cups C20 from chamber 26 to the chamber 21.

A second column shifting member 151 is slidably mounted on rear wall portion 24 (see FIGURES 5-9) by means of previously described projecting pin 98 which passes through a slot 152 in member 151 and another projecting pin (which is not visible in the drawings because of the presence of other parts) which passes through a slot 153 (see FIGURE 7). Column shifting member 151 is, thus, slidable between a lowered position as shown in FIGURES 5 and 7 and a raised position as shown in FIGURE 9. A horizontal lip 154 is formed along the upper edge of column shifting member 151, and lip 154 is engagable by surface 119 of lip 119 on pawl 115 whenever pawl 115 is disposed in its second position (see FIG- URE 8). Thus, with pawl 115 disposed in its second position, when the solenoid 81 is actuated, drive member 37 is moved to its raised position, and column shifting member 151 is caused to move to its raised position.

An actuating arm 155 is pivoted to rear wall portion 24 by means of a pin 156 and a retaining clip 157. The lower end of column shifting member 151 is formed into a lip 158, and a spring 15? is stretched between lip 158 and actuating arm 155. When column shifting member 151 is moved to its raised position, spring 158 urges actuating arm 155 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 7) to its FIGURE 9 disposition.

A lever arm 161 is pivoted about a pivot pin 162 to rear Wall portion 24, lever arm 161 being held on pin 162 by means of a retaining clip 163. One end of lever arm 161 is formed into a lip 164, and a spring 165 is stretched between lip 164 and a bracket 166 which is fixed to rear wall portion 24. Lever arm 161 is thus urged to pivot in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG- URES 5, 7, and 9. The other end 167 of lever arm 161 is linked to column shifting assembly 60 by means of a pin 168 which passes through a slot 169 in lever arm 161 and through an opening 170 in rear wall portion 24, pin 168 being fixed to flange 63 on side wall portion 61 of column shifting assembly 60. Clockwise pivotal movement of lever arm 161 thus urges column shifting assembly 60 to move from its FIGURE 1 disposition to its FIGURE 3 disposition.

Column shifting assembly 60 is normally prevented from sliding into its FIGURE 3 disposition by actuating arm 155. A pin 171 is fixed to bottom plate 68 and flange 63 near the bottom of assembly 60, pin 171 extending perpendicularly away from the rear wall portion 24, and a notch 172 is cut in actuating arm 155. With column shifting member 151 disposed in its lowered position (see FIGURE 5) and with column shifting assembly 60 disposed in its FIGURE 1 disposition, pin 171 engages notch 172 on actuating arm 155, and arm 155 thereby impedes movement of assembly 61) toward its FIGURE 3 disposition. Another pin 173 projecting rearwardly from a top plate extension 174 on top plate 67 fits in a notch 175 (see FIGURE 4) in the top edge of rear wall portion 24. A generally horizontal pivot plate 176 extends perpendicularly from the top edge of side wall portion 61 of column shifting assembly 60, plate 176 being adapted to fit into a cut away portion 177 (see FIGURE 4) in side wall portion 25 of mechanism M.

The movement of column shifting assembly 60 from its FIGURE 1 to its FIGURE 3 disposition under the urging of spring 165 may be described as follows. When column shifting member 151 is moved into its raised position, spring 159 is stretched and urges actuating arm 155 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about pin 156. When column shifting member 151 reaches its raised position, the tension exerted by spring 159 is sufficient to cause actuating arm 155 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction thereby causing notch 172 to pull away from pin 171. Actuating arm 155 thus no longer impedes lateral movement of pin 171, and column shifting assembly 68 is then free to move toward its FIGURE 1 disposition under the urging of spring 165. However, since pin 173 is still engaged in notch 175 only the bottom portion of column shifting assembly 68 moves toward the dispensing chamber 21. As the bottom portion of column shifting assembly 60 moves toward dispensing chamber 21, assembly 68 pivots about a point lying along the intersection of plate 176 and side portion 25. This has the effect of causing pin 173 to move upwardly out of notch 175. When pin 173 is moved out of notch 175, the upper portion of assembly 60 is then moved toward the chamber 21 under the urging of spring 165. The upper portion of assembly 68 is moved as far toward chamber 21 as is possible, movement ultimately being impeded by an edge 178 of the cut away portion in the top edge of rear wall portion 24 (see FIGURE 4).

The unique arrangement of pawl 115 and column shifting members 101, 151 permits the use of a single solenoid 81 to actuate both the column shifting assembly 60 and the column moving member 71. As has heretofore been explained, pawl 115 is movable from a first position wherein lip 119 thereon is engageable with projecting flange 128 on column shifting member 101 and a second position wherein lip 119 thereon is engageable with lip 154 on column shifting member 151. Pawl 115 is moved from its first to its second position (in opposition to the bias of over-center spring 117) in the following manner. When column shifting member 181 is moved to its raised position (as hereinbefore described) and column moving member 71 moves to itsFIGURE 11 full line disposition, hub 126 moves under cam surface 125 so that column shifting member 101 is maintained in its raised position. Upon de-energization of solenoid 81, drive member 87 is returned into its lowered position under the urging of spring 97, and pawl 115 cams against projecting pin 121 and, due to the configuration of pawl 115, moves to an over-center disposition wherein over-center spring 117 urges pawl 115 to move to its second position, in which lip 119 thereon engages lip 154 on column shifting member 151.

As best seen in FIGURES 12 and 13, a lever arm 1811 is pivoted about a pivot pin 182 to a bracket 183 which is fixed to rear wall portion 24 (see also FIGURES 5 and 6). A projecting pin 184 on previously described bracket 122 passes through a slot 185 in lever arm 18.1 whereby movement of column shifting member 101 from its lowered to its raised position causes lever arm 181 to pivot from the position shown in FIGURE -6 to that ShOlWIl in FIGURE 8. So long as lever arm 181 is disposed in the position shown in FIGURE 6, pawl member 115 may not be pivoted out of its first position. However, when column shifting member 101 is moved to its raised position (see FIGURE 8), lever arm 181 is pivoted to its FIG- URE 8 position, and pawl 115 is then free to pivot from its first to its second position. When column shifting member 101 is returned to its lowered position as the column moving member 71 is reset (as hereinafter described), lever arm 181 is pivoted back to the position shown in FIGURE 6 and pawl is pivoted back to its first position, end 186 of lever arm 181 abutting against tab 118 on pawl 115 and carrying the pawl 1*15 therewith as it pivots. The two positions of pawl 115 and of lever a-rm 181 are also shown in full and in dotted lines in FIGURE 13.

The operation of the article storing and releasing mechanism M may be described as follows. With the mechanism M disposed in the position shown in FIG- URES 1, 4, 5, and 6, three columns of cups C20-22 may be loaded in the mechanism M, one in each of the chambers 20-22. Repeated actuation of the cup-release ring 200 dispenses the entire column of cups C21 in chamber 21. Feeler 2*16 senses the dispensation of the last cup C from chamber 21 and causes switch 218 to close, thereby effecting the energization of solenoid 81. Energization of solenoid 81 causes armature 86 to be moved to its raised position (see FIGURE 9), thereby moving drive member 87 to its raised position (see also FIGURE 9). As drive member 87 moves to its raised position, pawl 115, which is disposed in its first position, causes column shifting member 101 to be moved to its raised position by means of lip 119 which engages projecting flange 120 on column shifting member 101. As column shifting member 101 moves to its raised position, arm 144 moves upwardly and cam surface 145 acts against pin 13 4 thereby camming arm 132 to the right in opposition to the bias of spring 142 (see FIGURE 10). This moves angular projecting lip 133 out of engagement with latch 131, and cover plate 51 is free to move to its FIGURE 11 disposition under the urging of hinge springs 57. After the opening of cover plate 5 1, upwardly moving column shifting member 101 causes cam surface 125 to slide above hub 126, thereby permitting spring 128 to pull hub 126 to its FIGURE 8 disposition. This results in column moving member 71 moving from its FIGURE 11 broken line disposition to its FIGURE 11 full line disposition, thereby causing the column of cups C20 to move from chamber 20 to chamber 2 1.

Upon movement of the second column of cups 020 into the chamber 21, the feeler 2116 senses the presence of cups in the column, thereby restoring switch 218 to its normal opened condition. This results in de-energization of solenoid 81 and allows drive member 87 and armature 86 hooked thereto to move to their lowered positions under the urging of spring 97. As drive member 87 moves to its lowered position, pawl 115 cams against projecting pin 121 and moves from its first position to an over-center position, wherefrom it is snapped to its second position by over-center spring 117.

The second column of cups C20 may then be dispensed from the chamber 21 in the aforementioned manner. After the dispensation of the last cup therefrom, feeler 2 16 again senses the absence of cups C in chamber 21, thereby causing switch 218 to close. The closing of switch 218 in turn reenergizes solenoid 81 which causes actuating shaft 86 thereof to move to a raised position, thereby pulling drive member 87 to its raised position. Since pawl 115 is disposed in its second position, lip 119 engages lip 154 on column shifting member 151, and column shifting member 151 is moved to its raised position. As member 151 is moved to its raised position, spring 159 is stretched, and, finally, under the urging of spring 159, actuating arm is snapped upwardly, notch 172 moving away from pin 171, and spring and lever arm 161 cooperate to move the bottom portion of column shifting assembly 60 to its FIGURE 3 disposition. As the lower portion of column shifting assembly 60 moves toward its FIGURE 3 disposition, pin 173 moves upwardly out of notch 175 as plate 176 pivots about side wall portion 25. When pin 173 is raised out of notch 175, spring 165 and lever arm 16 1 cooperate to move the upper portion of column shifting assembly 60 toward its FIGURE 3 disposition. This re- 1 1 sults in the movement of the third column of cups C22 into the chamber 21, from which the cups may then be released one-at-a-time as heretofore described.

A'fter dispensation of the last cup from the third column, the mechanism M may be reset for reloading with three fresh columns of cups C. This is accomplished in either of two possible ways. The first resetting sequence involves movement of column shifting assembly 60 to its FIGURE 1 disposition from its FIGURE 3 disposition in opposition to the bias of spring 165. Thus, assembly 60 is manually moved until pin 173 reenters notch i175, and column shifting member 151 is manually moved to its lowered position, and pin 171 is reinserted in notch 172. Then, column moving member 71 is pushed toward its FIGURE 11 broken line disposition, hub 1'26 moving out from under cam surface 125. Spring 110 them pulls column shifting member 101 to its lowered position wherein cam surface 125 prevents hub 126 from moving, thereby maintaining column moving member 71 in its FIGURE 11 broken line disposition. After column shifting member 101 has been returned .to its lowered position, cover plate 51 may be manually returned to its closed position wherein it covers the opening in rear wall portion 24. As it is closed, lat-ch 131 cams against angular projecting lip 133 and causes arm 132 to move toward the right as seen in FIGURE 10. After cover plate 51 is disposed in its closed position, however, arm 132 slides back toward the left under the urging of spring 142, and lip 133 re-enters latch v13 1, thereby locking cover plate 51 as shown in FIGURE 10. The other resetting sequence involves first resetting the column shifting components associated with chamber 20, and thereafter resetting the column shifting components associated with chamber 22.

If it is desired to maintain only two columns of cups C in the mechanism M at any given time, it is possible to do so by not utilizing chamber 20. When the mechanism M is reloaded, only the column shifting components associated with chamber 22 are reset and only two columns of cups C are loaded in the mechanism M. The

components associated with chamber 20 (i.e., col-umn moving member 71 and cover plate 51) are left in their empty disposition (see FIGURE 11) When these parts are disposed in their empty disposition, the mechanism M functions as a two column article storing and releasing device.

It is possible to modify the subject invention whereby column shifting member 101 is driven directly by drive member 87, rather than by pawl 115. This is accomplished by removing lip 120 from column shifting member 101, and by providing a projecting arm (not shown) on side portion 90 of drive member 87, which is adapted to engage a lip (not shown) on shifting member 101. Thus, movement of drive member 87 to its raised position would cause column shifting member 101 to move to its raised position. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that lip 119 on pawl 115 may be reversed in the suggested modified mechanism since lip 120 is not provided in such a modified mechanism. In all other respects the structure and operation of the device are as previously described. Thus, pawl 115 would still pivot between its first and second positions as hereinbefore described, and upward movement would still be imparted from drive member 87 to column shifting member 151 by means of pawl 115.

While the invention has been described with reference to a cup dispenser, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the principles of the subject invention can be readily adapted to the dispensation of any variety of other articles, as required. It should be further understood that various changes and modifications may be etiected in the details of construction and manner of operation of the exemplary embodiments described herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article storing and releasing mechanism compr1smg:

a plurality of wall members defining an immovable dispensing chamber and a plurality of immovable storage chambers, each of the chambers being adapted to hold a stacked column of dispensible articles, and each storage chamber communicating with the said dispensing chamber whereby a stacked column of dispensible articles can be moved along a generally straight-line path from each storage chamber in to the dispensing chamber;

column shifting means for each storage chamber, each column shifting means being adapted upon actuation to move a stacked column of articles from its corresponding storage chamber along a generally straight-line path into the dispensing chamber; and

unitary actuating means, comprising a single solenoid, adapted to successively actuate the column shifting means one-at-a-time in sequence,

whereby the stacked columns of articles can be moved in sequence from their respective storage chambers along a generally straight-line path into the dispensing chamber.

2. An articles storing and releasing mechanism comprising:

a plurality of wall members defining a dispensing chamber and a plurality of storage chambers, each of the chambers being adapted to hold a stacked column of dispensible articles, and each storage chamber communicating with the said dispensing chamber whereby a stacked column of dispensible articles can be moved from each storage chamber into the dispensing chamber;

means for releasing articles one-at-a-time from the dispensing chamber;

sensing means adapted to sense the dispensation of the last one of a stacked column of articles from the dispensing chamber;

column shifting means for each storage chamber, each column shifting means being adapted upon actuation to move a stacked column of articles from its corresponding storage chamber into the dispensing chamber; and

unitary actuating means, comprising a single solenoid,

adapted to successively actuate the column shifting means in sequence when the sensing means senses the dispensation of the last one of a stacked column of articles from the dispensing chamber,

whereby columns of stacked articles are moved in a predetermined sequence from their respective storage chambers into the dispensing chamber for dispensation therefrom.

3. An article storing and releasing mechanism, as claimed in claim 2, wherein two storage chambers are provided and wherein the actuating means comprises:

a drive member movable between a first position and a second position;

biasing means adapted to normally urge the drive member toward its first position;

drive means adapted to move the drive member from its first to its second position;

a pawl member pivotally mounted on the drive member between a first position, for engagement with and actuation of one of the column shifting means, and a second position for engagement with and actuation of the other of the column shifting means, the said pawl member being normally disposed in its first position;

over-center biasing means adapted to oppose movement of the pawl member from the one of its first and second positions in which it is disposed at a given time, and adapted to urge the pawl member toward its second position whenever the pawl member is pivoted more than halfway from its first to its second position; and

means adapted to cause the pawl member to pivot more than halfway to its second position when the drive member moves from its second to its first position after actuation of the said one of the column shifting means,

whereby movement of the drive member from its first to its second position with the pawl member disposed in its first position actuates the said one column shifting means, and movement of the drive member from its first to its second position with the pawl member disposed in its second position actuates the said other column shifting means.

4. An articles storing and releasing mechanism, as

claimed in claim 3, and further comprising:

openable cover means adapted to separate one of the storage chambers from the dispensing chamber; and

means adapted to open the cover means just prior to the actuation of the column shifting means associated therewith.

5. An article storing and releasing mechanism comprising:

a plurality of generally vertical wall members defining a dispensing chamber and a pair of storage chambers, each of the chambers being adapted to hold a stacked column of dispensible articles, and each storage chamber communicating with the dispensing chamber whereby a stacked column of dispensible articles can be moved laterally from each storage chamber into the dispensing chamber;

means for releasing articles one-at-a-time from the dispensing chamber;

sensing means adapted to sense the dispensation of the topmost one of a stacked column of articles from the dispensing chamber;

column shifting means for each storage chamber, each column shifting means being adapted, upon actuation, to move a stacked column of articles from its corresponding storage chamber into the dispensing chamber; and

actuating means adapted to successively actuate the column shifting means in sequence when the sensing means senses the dispensation of the topmost one of a stacked column of articles from the dispensing chamber,

whereby stacked columns of articles are moved in sequence from their respective storage chambers into the dispensing chamber.

6. In a storing and releasing mechanism comprising two storage chambers and a dispensing chamber, each of which is adapted to hold a stacked column of dispensible articles, a column shifting mechanism adapted to move stacked columns of dispensible articles from the storage chambers to the dispensing chamber according to a predetermined sequence, the said column shifting mechanism comprising:

a frame member;

a pair of column moving means, one for each storage chamber and each being adapted upon actuation to displace a stacked column of dispensible articles from its associated storage chamber into the dispensing chamber;

a pair of shifting members, one for each column moving means, each shifting member being mounted on the frame member for movement between a rest position and an operative position wherein the said shifting member causes its corresponding column moving means to displace a stacked column of dispensible articles;

a drive member mounted on the frame member for movement between a first position and a second position;

biasing means adapted to normally urge the drive member toward its first position;

drive means adapted to move the drive member to its second position;

a pawl member pivotally mounted on the drive member between a first position, wherein it engages one of the shifting members for movement thereof from its rest to its operative position, and a second position, wherein it engages the other of the shifting members for movement thereof from its rest to its operative position, the said pawl member being normally disposed in its first position;

over-center biasing means adapted to oppose movement of the pawl member from the one of its first and second positions in which it is disposed at any given time, the said over-center biasing means being adapted to urge the pawl member toward its second position whenever the pawl member is pivoted more than halfway from its first to its second position; and

means adapted to cause the pawl member to pivot more than halfway to its second position when the drive member moves from its second to its first position, after movement of the said one shifting member to its operative position,

whereby movement of the drive member from its first to its second position with the pawl member disposed in its first position causes the said one of the shifting members to move from its rest to its operative position, and movement of the drive member from its first to its second position with the pawl member disposed in its second position causes the said other of the shifting members to move from its rest to its operative position.

7. A column shifting mechanism, as claimed in claim 6,

and further comprising:

means adapted to move the pawl member from its second position to its first position when the said one of the shifting members moves from its operative to its rest position.

8. In a storing and releasing mechanism comprising two storage chambers, a dispensing chamber, each chamber being adapted to hold a stacked column of dispensable articles, and column shifting means for each storage chamber adapted, upon actuation, to move a stacked column of articles from its corresponding storage chamber into the dispensing chamber, actuating means adapted to successively actuate the column shifting means in sequence, the said actuating means comprising:

a drive member movable between a first position and a second position;

biasing means adapted to normally urge the drive member toward its first position;

drive means adapted to move the drive member from its first to its second position;

a pawl member pivotally mounted on the drive member between a first position, for engagement with and actuation of one of the column shifting means, and a second position for engagement with and actuation of the other of the column shifting means, the said pawl member being normally disposed in its first position;

over-center biasing means adapted to oppose movement of the pawl member from the one of its first and second positions in which it is disposed at a given time, and adapted to urge the pawl member toward its second position whenever the pawl member is pivoted more than half way from its first to its second position; and

means adapted to cause the pawl member to pivot more than half way to its second position when the drive member moves from its second to its first position after actuation of the said one of the column shifting means,

whereby movement of the drive member from its first to its second position with the pawl member disposed in its first position actuates the first column shifting means, and movement of the drive member from its first to its second position with the pawl member disposed in its second position actuates the second column shifting means.

9. Actuating means, as claimed in claim 8, and further comprising:

means adapted to move the pawl member from its second position to its first position when the said one of the column shifting means is restored to a deactuated condition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Netherlands.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE STORING AND RELEASING MECHANISM COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF WALL MEMBERS DEFINING AN IMMOVABLE DISPENSING CHAMBER AND A PLURALITY OF IMMOVABLE STORAGE CHAMBERS, EACH OF THE CHAMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD A STACKED COLUMN OF DISPENSIBLE ARTICLES, AND EACH STORAGE CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH THE SAID DISPENSING CHAMBER WHEREBY A STACKED COLUMN OF DISPENSIBLE ARTICLES CAN BE MOVED ALONG A GENERALLY STRAIGHT-LINE PATH FROM EACH STORAGE CHAMBER IN TO THE DISPENSING CHAMBER; COLUMN SHIFTING MEANS FOR EACH STORAGE CHAMBER, EACH COLUMN SHIFTING MEANS BEING ADAPTED UPON ACTUATION TO MOVE A STACKED COLUMN OF ARTICLES FROM ITS CORRESPONDING STORAGE CHAMBER ALONG A GENERALLY STRAIGHT-LINE PATH INTO THE DISPENSING CHAMBER; AND UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS, COMPRISING A SINGLE SOLENOID, ADAPTED TO SUCCESSIVELY ACTUATE THE COLUMN SHIFTING MEANS ONE-AT-A-TIME IN SEQUENCE, WHEREBY THE STACKED COLUMNS OF ARTICLES CAN BE MOVED IN SEQUENCE FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE STORAGE CHAMBERS ALONG A GENERALLY STRAIGHT-LINE PATH INTO THE DISPENSING CHAMBER. 